Head coach of the Armenia men’s weightlifting team Pashik Alaverdyan spoke about Rio 2016 Olympics silver medalist Simon Martirosyan’s (109 kg) victory at the European Weightlifting Championship ending in Batumi, Georgia.

“They say the winner isn’t judged but if I were satisfied I wouldn’t work with Simon Martirosyan any more. There is no one I’m pleased with, even with you. When I am pleased I won’t work anymore. Everything was very well, especially, considering that Simon had an injury. Doctors working hard managed to recover him. Gagik Tsarukyan has supported him too helping with doctors and other things. So, ahead, to the World Championship,” Pashik Alaverdyan said.

The current world champion had registered a total of 427 kg (192+235) result and exceeded by 16 kg the second place holder, Belarusian Andrei Aramnau. Simon Martirosyan had also won gold medals in the snatch and clean and jerk. He had won the champion title with a total of 435 kg (195+240) and had set a world record at the World Championship of last year in the capital city of Turkmenistan, Ashkhabad.

This was Armenia’s 4th medal in the combined event of the European Championship.

On April 13, Armenia’s Samvel Gasparyan (102 kg) had become a European silver medalist. Earlier, Hakob Mkrtchyan at 89kg had become European champion and David Hovhannisyan had won European bronze.

On the last day of the European Championship the struggle will be continued by Arpine Dalalayan (+87 kg), world champion, Olympic silver medalist Simon Martirosyan (109 kg), Olympic silver medalist Gor Minasyan and Ruben Aleksanyan (+109 kg).